American National vs. Atlantic States: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, American National offers significantly more affordable rates than Atlantic States
• American National offers cheaper average prices for residents of rural areas
• Atlantic States offers more discounts than American National Insurance Company

American National vs. Atlantic States: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to American National or Atlantic States as your top options, but which carrier has less expensive rates for car insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Atlantic States is quite a bit more expensive than American National, with premiums averaging $160 per month compared to just $87 with American National.

However, that doesn't mean American National will necessarily be cheaper than Atlantic States for each driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how old you are, how good your credit score is, where you live, and a ton of other factors, so rates could vary drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of American National or Atlantic States is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each carrier broken down by many different rate factors.

American National or Atlantic States: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American National and Atlantic States only compete against each other in one states, with American National offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Pennsylvania has the most noticable difference, where American National premiums are over 30% more affordable than insurance rates at Atlantic States.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just the state you live in. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group out there on the road. That's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use American National save $100 a month compared to those who use Atlantic States.

Even so, both companies will reduce rates once you turn 25. For example, average prices for American National policyholders decrease more than 60% and Atlantic States's premiums lower over 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable rates you'll ever find.

When looking at American National and Atlantic States specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? American National gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $66 a month compared to Atlantic States's $119.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are generally cheaper for married couples than they are for single drivers? That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, American National is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices around $81 per month less expensive than Atlantic States, on average. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - American National offers the lowest average premiums.

American National vs. Atlantic States: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get tickets and get into collisions, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for insurance than women.

Men typically pay about 1% more a month than women with American National, and nearly 10% with Atlantic States.

When it comes to the cheapest rates for each gender, American National comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $66 per month and men save around $79 with American National compared to the average Atlantic States policyholder.

American National or Atlantic States: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

That being said, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, American National generally offers significantly more affordable premiums of $52 compared to Atlantic States's $85. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American National again has the edge, with policies about $100 a month less expensive than Atlantic States, on average.

Is American National or Atlantic States Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American National policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $17 per month if they get a ticket, while Atlantic States normally raises premiums around $6 a month, on average.

But American National has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 42% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 31% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through American National can expect to see about an $28 -- or around 29% -- increase in their insurance rates. Drivers who use Atlantic States for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $37 (or 24%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance carrier.

Overall, American National offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $95 compared to Atlantic States Insurance Company's $153.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly auto insurance bill -- generally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Atlantic States drivers usually see a 54% climb in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while American National will typically raise rates by around 36%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, American National tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $104 per month compared to $250 from Atlantic States.

How does Credit Score Impact American National and Atlantic States Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect a lot of drivers out there.

Auto insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking at American National and Atlantic States specifically, which company has the most affordable prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with American National. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 65% compared to Atlantic States, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $79 or 54% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

American National typically offers lower premiums than Atlantic States when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $69 per month less with American National compared to Atlantic States, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $58 monthly.

Is American National or Atlantic States Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a large impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage. Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure, American National tends to be the less expensive option. Atlantic States average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $68 more expensive than American National. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay about $77 more with Atlantic States over American National.

American National vs. Atlantic States: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a substantial impact on your monthly insurance cost. Generally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

American National boasts the lowest average prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable rates from both carriers, but American National comes out on top with average premiums around $73 per month. American National also has cheaper average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 49% and 41% a month respective difference when compared to Atlantic States policyholders in similar areas.

American National vs. Atlantic States Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by American National and Atlantic States so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, Atlantic States has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. American National offers a grand total of 14 discounts, while Atlantic States has 19.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Atlantic States also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, family discounts, and more that American National does not.

On the flip side, American National has a couple unique discounts of its own -- claim free discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is American National or Atlantic States Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right one for you and your specific needs?

American National might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Atlantic States might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Atlantic States has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between American National and Atlantic States. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just American National and Atlantic States. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American National vs. Atlantic States FAQs

Is American National or Atlantic States cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, American National is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $87 per month compared to $160 for Atlantic States. However, American National won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are lots of different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, American National or Atlantic States?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do American National and Atlantic States offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as your driving record, where you park your vehicle, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both American National and Atlantic States calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

How do I know if American National or Atlantic States is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be American National or Atlantic States at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.